Aid agencies hope disaster provides leverage for peace in Aceh

Published: 2005-01-24

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (CNS) -- The aid agencies that arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province after the tsunami disaster may provide the international community with the leverage needed to force a lasting peace and cease-fire in the region, Catholic aid officials said. Without a permanent cease-fire, aid workers said they fear the millions of dollars earmarked for survivors in Aceh may not reach those who need it most. "My hope is that the international community can use its leverage to get the government and the rebels at the peace table," said Patrick Johns, emergency response team director for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency. Reports of sporadic gunfire between the Indonesian military and rebels of the Free Aceh Movement, known by its Indonesian acronym, GAM, have circulated since the tsunamis hit Dec. 26. Indonesia said Jan. 22 that it has killed about 200 rebels since the relief effort started. Johns said an upsurge in violence could force aid agencies to scale back operations.

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